Thus burn’d the battle like devouring fire. 
Meantime, Antilochus with rapid steps
Came to Achilles.  Him he found before
His lofty barks, occupied, as he stood,
With boding fears of all that had befall’n. 5
He groan’d, and to his noble self he said. 
Ah! wo is me—­why falls Achaia’s host,
With such disorder foul, back on the fleet? 
I tremble lest the Gods my anxious thoughts
Accomplish and my mother’s words, who erst 10
Hath warn’d me, that the bravest and the best
Of all my Myrmidons, while yet I live,
Slain under Troy, must view the sun no more. 
Brave Menoetiades is, doubtless, slain. 
Unhappy friend!  I bade thee oft, our barks 15
Deliver’d once from hostile fires, not seek
To cope in arms with Hector, but return. 
While musing thus he stood, the son approach’d
Of noble Nestor, and with tears his cheeks
Bedewing copious, his sad message told. 20
Oh son of warlike Peleus! thou shalt hear
Tidings of deeds which best had never been. 
Patroclus is no more.  The Grecians fight
For his bare corse, and Hector hath his arms.[1]
Then clouds of sorrow fell on Peleus’ son, 25
And, grasping with both hands the ashes, down
He pour’d them on his head, his graceful brows
Dishonoring, and thick the sooty shower
Descending settled on his fragrant vest. 
Then, stretch’d in ashes, at the vast extent 30
Of his whole length he lay, disordering wild
With his own hands, and rending off his hair. 
The maidens, captived by himself in war
And by Patroclus, shrieking from the tent
Ran forth, and hemm’d the glorious Chief around.[2] 35
All smote their bosoms, and all, fainting, fell. 
On the other side, Antilochus the hands
Held of Achilles, mourning and deep groans
Uttering from his noble heart, through fear
Lest Peleus’ son should perish self-destroy’d. 40
Loud groan’d the hero, whose loud groans within
The gulfs of ocean, where she sat beside
Her ancient sire, his Goddess-mother heard,
And hearing shriek’d; around her at the voice
Assembled all the Nereids of the deep 45
Cymodoce, Thalia, Glauca came,
Nisaea, Spio, Thoa, and with eyes
Protuberant beauteous Halia; came with these
Cymothoee, and Actaea, and the nymph
Of marshes, Limnorea, nor delay’d 50
Agave, nor Amphithoee the swift,
Iaera, Doto, Melita, nor thence
Was absent Proto or Dynamene,
Callianira, Doris, Panope,
Pherusa or Amphinome, or fair 55
Dexamene, or Galatea praised
For matchless form divine; Nemertes pure
Came also, with Apseudes crystal-bright,
Callianassa, Maera, Clymene,
Janeira and Janassa, sister pair, 60